Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/985,989

TUB SUPPORT

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Dec 18, 2024
Examiner
GEHMAN, BRYON P
Art Unit
3736
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Sonoco Development Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
74%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 1m
To Grant
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 74% — above average
74%
Career Allow Rate
1435 granted / 1949 resolved
+3.6% vs TC avg
Strong +31% interview lift
Without
With
+30.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 1m
Avg Prosecution
46 currently pending
Career history
1995
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.3%
-39.7% vs TC avg
§103
51.0%
+11.0% vs TC avg
§102
5.5%
-34.5% vs TC avg
§112
23.7%
-16.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1949 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . Claims 18, 21, 22 and 24 are objected to because of the following informalities: In claim 18, lines 10-11, “the at least one cutouts” is ungrammatical, and should be --the at least one cutout--. In lines 14-15, “the at least one additional tabs” is ungrammatical, and should be --the at least one additional tab--. In claim 21, line 1, “the at least one cutouts” is ungrammatical, and should be --the at least one cutout--. In claim 22, lines 1-2, “the at least one additional tabs” is ungrammatical, and should be --the at least one additional tab--. In claim 2, lines 1-2, “the at least one additional tabs” is ungrammatical, and should be --the at least one additional tab--. Appropriate correction is required. The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a): (a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention. Claims 18-25 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claims contain subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. In claim 18, lines 5, 15 and 17, the definition of “at least four hanging tabs” is never expressed exactly, nor is such understood to be originally delimited by the original disclosure. In claim 18, lines 11-13, the recitation “wherein each of the at least one additional extends in a plane perpendicular to the side wall through which it extends” is never expressed exactly, nor is such understood to be originally delimited by the original disclosure. Applicant states that this application is a continuation or divisional application of the prior-filed application. A continuation or divisional application cannot include new matter. Applicant is required to delete the benefit claim or change the relationship (continuation or divisional application) to continuation-in-part because this application contains the following matter not disclosed in the prior-filed application: In claim 18, lines 5, 15 and 17, the definition of “at least four hanging tabs” is never expressed exactly, nor is such understood to be originally delimited by the original disclosure of the parent applications. In claim 18, lines 11-13, the recitation “wherein each of the at least one additional extends in a plane perpendicular to the side wall through which it extends” is never expressed exactly, nor is such understood to be originally delimited by the original disclosure of the parent applications. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b): (b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. Claims 18-25 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. In claim 18, lines 3-4, “the side walls having a top edge opposite the base” is indefinite, as plural side walls do not define a single top edge as recited. In claim 21, line 2, “an at least one additional tab” is indefinite whether such is an entirely different tab than previously defined, or double recitation of those “additional tabs” previously defined. In claim 23, line 1, “each of the panels” lacks antecedent basis for plural panels. In claim 24, “wherein upon folding, each of the at least one additional tabs fits into an at least one cutout” appears to be double recitation relative to claim 18, lines 10-11, “at least one additional tab extending through each of the at least one cutouts”. Prior Art not relied upon: Please refer to the additional references listed on the attached PTO-892, which, while not relied upon for the claim rejection, these references are deemed relevant to the claimed invention as a whole. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BRYON P GEHMAN whose telephone number is (571) 272-4555. The examiner can normally be reached on Tuesday through Thursday from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm. Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor, Orlando Aviles, can be reached on (571) 270-5531. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /BRYON P GEHMAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3736 Bryon P. Gehman Primary Examiner Art Unit 3736 BPG
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 18, 2024
Application Filed
Oct 14, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Feb 05, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
74%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+30.8%)
2y 1m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1949 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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